Home Electronics Review

Panasonic TV Camera Model WV-71 - What is inside

noreply@blogger.com (fleatrade) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 05:05:00 +0000

What you have always wanted to know about what is inside the Panasonic TV Camera Model WV-71. This is Made In Japan, use a TV camera tube not a CCD device. Has video over DC connection, thus saving one extra power cable. You just need a video cable to connect the camera to a video recording or TV screen. This is very useful considering that the camera is usually installed in remote locations far from the monitoring location.

Panasonic TV Camera Model WV-71 TV
Camera Tube KV-19NA

Panasonic TV Camera Model WV-71

Intel R80286-8 CPU Chip in PLCC ZIF Package

noreply@blogger.com (fleatrade) — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 03:41:00 +0000

Intel R80286-8 CPU in a PLCC ZIF package.

Intel C8008-1 CPU chip.

noreply@blogger.com (fleatrade) — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 03:39:00 +0000

Intel C8008-1 CPU Chip Made In Malaysia in 1978 Week 2

This is a Intel C8008-1 CPU chip, the first 8bit microprocessor made by Intel. It is use here to control a teletypwriter. The chip has been stored for many years in a black antistatic foam. Over the years chemical from the foam has reacted with imperfections in the gold plating on the pins and has eaten away the lower half of all the termination pins ( the half that was inserted into the foam ). This fact that this happens makes an interesting study of materials science especially where duralability is concern.

HP iPaq Pocket PC - Should It have been called iPhone instead?

noreply@blogger.com (fleatrade) — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 04:38:00 +0000

About the year 2000, Hewlett Packard has a product called the iPaq Pocket PC. It operates on Windows Mobile. Among the features, voice recording, wifi, maybe bluetooth, sim card ( for voice ? or 2G access? ). Color LCD touch screen.

If looks more like a early smartphone than anything else, too bad HP did not called it the iPhone but called it the iPaq. Why HP chose the name iPaq rather iPad is a big mistake as we now know that Apple blockbuster tablet PC is called the iPad.

Here is some pictures of what could have be the percursor to today tablet PCs.

This probably the wireless or 2G phone module

3 Watt Luxeon LED Bulb Review

noreply@blogger.com (fleatrade) — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 03:30:00 +0000

This 3 Watt "Luxeon" LED bulb has the MR11 pins loosen after a few round of insertion into a lamp holder for testing.

So I decided to dissassemble it to take a look at the reason for failure.

These are the major components: the bulb base made from nylon, the constant current source module, the Luxeon 3 Watt LED, the LED housing which is essentially the heat sink, the white nylon reflector, the lens and the lens retainer ring.

An interesting thing to note is that the Luxeon LED is not screwed to the heat sink, but is pressed against the heat sink via the nylon reflector using the lens retainer ring. This probably save some screws and assembly time.

The cause of the MR11 pin loosening? Well, the adhesive that hold the constant current PCB module does not adhere too well to the nylon base and so has come off as shown.

Some electrical characteristics of the 3 Watt Luxeon LED bulb: take input voltage of 6 to 12 AC/DC. Current at 6V is 500mA. Current at 12V is 250mA.

Vintage General Electric 1200W Microwave Oven

noreply@blogger.com (fleatrade) — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 10:24:00 +0000

Got hold of a old vintage General Electric 1200 microwave overn from the rag and bone man. Did not waste time in opening it up. Here is the innards, the classic magnetron, the high voltage transformer that weight about 7kg, the high voltage rectifier diode, the electrommechanical time, the cooling fan, the cooking chamber light which is an old fashion 20W incandescent light bulb, the turntable motor, the microswitches that turn off the microwave oven when the door is open, the over temperature cut off sensor mounted on the magnetron itself.

Note the mica sheet covering the microwave waveguide opening in the cooking chamber. This is actually a bad design as it exposed the mica sheet to the consumer risking food contamination.

Interesting fact to note is that although General Electric do make magnetrons once, they are now using a LG Electronics ( South Korea ) magnetron, so is the high voltage 1uF capacitor.

In vintage microwave oven like this which uses a high voltage transformer, the cooking microwave power is actually controlled by turning the magnetron on and off at regular intervals. This actually does not gives very precise cooking. Modern microwave oven uses a electronic inverter to supply high voltage to the microwave and the microwave power in this case is controlled by varying the high voltage output pulses.

Inside 150W Metal Halide Lamp Replaced By Led Bulb

noreply@blogger.com (fleatrade) — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 08:12:00 +0000

LED lighting has finally became bright enough to replace this 150W metal halide indoor floodlight. I dismantle the metal halide lamp to have a look. These pictures are the inside components of the metal halide lamp.

The 150W metal halide ballast, the metal halide power factor capacitor, the metal halide ignitor and the 270K bleeder resister. Note the metal halide ballast connection diagram. Essentially the ignitor is wire in parallel to the metal halide lamp to give it the 3KV or more kick it needs to startup. The whole ballast assembly weight about 3Kg, really vintage technology as it is electric ballast.

Although electronic ballast are available, more efficient LED have replace metal halide lamps especially below 250W.

Pioneer CLD-D590 LD CDV CD Video Audio Player

noreply@blogger.com (fleatrade) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:35:00 +0000

This is vintage looking Laser Disc player from Pioneer. Looks big and heavy compare to the DVD players. The Laser Disc use analog recording and the video is surprisingly of very high quality.

The remote control has a user friendly jog control that allows intuitive fast forward or reverse of the movie.

A Electric Mini RC Helicopter Inside Look

noreply@blogger.com (fleatrade) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 02:43:00 +0000

This little electric mini RC Helicopter wonders into my backyard due to pilot error. So I capture the intruding aircraft. Here is a review of the enemy technology used in the aircraft.

Interesting thing to note, the tail rotor is mounted horizontally rather than vertically. This leads me to think that this is use to control the forward/backward motion of the rc helicopter. Tilt the tail up and the helicopter will move forward, tilt it down ( by reducing the speed of the rotor ) and the helicopter move backwards. The flight pattern is somewhat like a humming bird I think when it is sucking up nectar.

There are actually two main rotors. One is use to move the helicopter up and the other is used to move the helicopter down. This is probably down to reduce the complexity of the drive electronics and also to reduce cost. There are no complicated electronics to change the direction of the rotor with just one motor. The two motors may also be needed to balance the helicopter since the drive motor is mounted off center in the helicopter chassis.

Note the use of the lithium polymer battery, for its high power to weight ratio. The battery itself does not have a metal casing further reducing the weight.

Note the comments on the battery that the battery should not be charged by children. Yet electric rc helicopters like this are frequently given as toys to children. I supposed its is really safe if you use the charger supplied. ( Lithium polymer battery may explode or catch fire if improperly charged )

This low cost rc helicopter also does not have battery protection circuit to shut off the battery when the voltage drop below the recommended 3V for a Li-Po battery. This can also results in abrupt termination of flight when the battery goes flat in mid air.

A possible improvement to this electric mini RC helicopter would be to use a single brushless DC motor to drive the main rotor. The will considerably lighten the helicopter possibly prolonging the lithium polymer battery life. Brushless DC motor are also more efficient.

Ariston Hot Water Heater Maintenance

noreply@blogger.com (fleatrade) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:01:00 +0000

In restrospect the water heater could have given more years of service if there regular maintenace of the water heater is done.

All modern water heater has a magnesium anode installed inside the tank. This serves to provide the cathodic anti-rust protection of the iron water tank. The magnesium anode attracts

the corrosive substances found in the water and binds them to the magnesium saving the the iron tank from corrosion.

Regular replacements of the magnesium anode rod will ensure that the cathodic protection is active.

These pictures shows the heavily corroded magnesium anode rod. In fact it has fallen off from it mount on the heater element.

Home Made Energy

Ariston Hot Water Heater Replacement - Draining the Tank

noreply@blogger.com (fleatrade) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 13:56:00 +0000

Let the water in the tank cooled before you try to replace to hot water heater. This is because once you disconnect the pipes to the hot water heater, the water in the tank will drain out as shown.

Ariston Hot Water Heater Replacement And Problems

noreply@blogger.com (fleatrade) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 13:44:00 +0000

This hard working Ariston water heater developed a problem after seven long years of use.

There seems to be some corrosion resulting in a slight leaking of rust stained water from the water outlet and inlet and also staining the casing.

The water heater leaking is not a big problem just yet, but the rust color water droplet can stained the tiles on the bathroom floor, especially those partially porous anti slip tiles.

These pictures shows some simple steps you can take for the hot water heater replacement. If you are not good with a spanner and pipes it is best to call a plumber. I called a plumber as I am just too lazy.

Computer Monitor Recyling

noreply@blogger.com (fleatrade) — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 03:47:00 +0000

I took apart a Philips 17inch monitor, curious as to what useful items I can recovered from it. Star find is about 500gm of copper wire from the deflection yoke, the degausing coil and other odds and end focusing coils in the deflection yoke.

Taking out the deflection yoke is easy, you dont need to break the crt glass, like is shown in many videos on crt ( hey even the professional recyclers do it, and thats a bit dangerous not to mention actually takes more time ). You just need to loosin the clip around the yoke with a Allen screw driver and then twist the yoke loose with your hands. Wear gloves to proper a better grip and to offer hand protection.

Blood iPhone?

noreply@blogger.com (fleatrade) — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 12:07:00 +0000

A worker in a factory in China making the Apple iPhone was so distraught over the loss of a iPhone prototype and the subsequent questioning by security officers in the factory that he jumped off the 12th floor of his apartment and killed himself.

Sort of like a blood diamond kind of thing to me.

The Sony Walkman Is 30 Years Old

noreply@blogger.com (fleatrade) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:23:00 +0000

I just learned the Sony Walkman just turned 30 years. In 1979 July 1, Sony released a portable cassette player to the market called the Walkman. It can only played recorded cassette tapes.

It was a major leap in portability for consumer electronics. For the first time you can carry a entertainment appliance in your pocket.

As a early tech adopter I bought one of the latter models. this can record to cassette and also has a AM/FM radio. It has a battery that is shaped like a piece of Chiclets chewing gum. I believe this battery is also rechargeable. However the short battery life between recharges causes my interest to wane and this cassette has since been shelved.

Look out for the picture of a vintage Walkman cassette player/recorder, after I dug it out of my junk bin.

Recycled AM/FM Alarm Clock Radio

noreply@blogger.com (fleatrade) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:04:00 +0000

This is a vintage ( circa 1980s, based on the date marked on the IC chips, in fact 1983 ) 7 segment LED alarm clock radio that I decided to give a new lease of life. The clock portion is bad as the time setting switches are stuck and the clock cannot be set. Other than that the AM/FM radio portion seems ok.

I hooked it up to a larger 2-way speaker and this gives a much clearer and richer sound. The piano sound just perfect. The sound stage is excellent for a desktop radio.

The reconfigured AM/FM radio show signs of trouble after a few hours of use with the new speaker. Some testing reveals a dried out capacitor and a bad transistor. The transistor is used to turn on the radio via the clock or a switch. The fault prevents the power supply from reaching the radio circuits.

The capacitor is replaced and the transistor removed and the radio connected directly to the DC power supply. The radio is now working perfectly.

Note the rather small AC step down transformer. The radio may not have been design for prolonged use ( maybe as bedtime listening only ), after a few hours of use the ac transformer is hot to the touch. Also load regulation of the output voltage is bad. Note also the rather black look of the varnish on the transformer which is the result of prolong use.

Philips Steam Iron Bimetal Thermostat With An eye on quality

noreply@blogger.com (fleatrade) — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 12:44:00 +0000

This is a closeup of the thermostat used for ironing temperature setting. This is a mechanical thermostat that uses a bimetallic strip to sense the temperature of the soleplate. Turning the dial adjust the gap at which the electrical connection to the heating element will be opened.

Note the additional contact that seems to be prop up by a white ceramic post. This is a safety feature that cuts off the electrical supply if the thermostat becomes loose. This indicate the quality of the design in the Philips Mistral steam iron.

Step 3 - Remove the soleplate

noreply@blogger.com (fleatrade) — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 12:34:00 +0000

This is the soleplate in the plastic housing (looks like a boat). Aftere removing the plastic housing you can see the soleplate. There is a small aluminium compartment into which water is dripped to produced steam. The heating element is embedded inside the soleplate. Note the iron temperature control mounted on the soleplate. There need to be a tight heat transfer between this and the sole plate to properly set the ironing temperature. Note the accumulation of lint on the surface, browned through the relatively high temperature on the soleplate. The other picture shows the lint wash off. The circular disk is actually some form of steam control.

Step 2 - Remove the steam iron handle and water holder

noreply@blogger.com (fleatrade) — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 12:30:00 +0000

First remove the de-calcium control knob to reveal a small screw. Removing this screw will loosen the handle of the iron. Next remove two screws that fastened the water holder to the lower half of the steam iron. Remove also the steam iron temperature control knob. ( By adjusting the knob, you set correct the iron temperature for the correct material of laundry that you are ironing, wool, cotton, silk, or synthetic fibers ). The decalcium function may not be needed if you actually used filtered water for the steam generation. This is a better solution as it ensure no calcium ever get deposited into the iron heating chamber. Most good quality water treatment system will remove calcium deposits from ordinary tap water, through a very efficient charcoal filter.

Step 1 - Remove the steam iron end cover to expose the wiring.

noreply@blogger.com (fleatrade) — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 10:46:00 +0000

The rear cover of the steam iron is first removed (just one screw) to exposed the main electrical connections. The blue object is the motion sensor switch. This switch of the iron if no motion is detected after a while and is a nice safety feature. Helps to prevent burnt clothes or ironing board and also to save electricity for forgetful users. The electrical connections are made with easy to remove but firm crimped on connectors.

Proposed Quality Assessment Of Philips Mistral Steam Iron

noreply@blogger.com (fleatrade) — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 10:39:00 +0000

This is a well used Philips Mistral steam laundry iron. I intend to dissassembled it over the next few hours. The objective is to study the engineering design in a modern electric steam iron. The iron is actually white, the discoloration is due to exposure to the UV rays from the sun when left out in the porch. Notice the wearing of the non-stick Teflon coating on the iron undersite, probably the result of abrasion against buttons and zippers.

Bauch & Lomb Magnifying Glass Gives A More Detail Look

noreply@blogger.com (fleatrade) — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 04:07:00 +0000

Here are two magnifying glass that I use for getting a more detail look on the marking on that old IC chip, or the structure of some unusual component.

These are made of high quality optical plastic with ergonmically designed hard plastic handle.
They have serve me for years. Surprising the lens is quite scratch resistant as I always throw the lens into bowl with other odds and ends, and there seems hardly any scratches.

Here is the round Bauch & Lomb Magnifying Glass:

Here is the rectangle Bauch & Lomb Magnifying Glass:

The square one is actually good for documents.

Wearnes VCD CD MP3 Player - Laser Diode and First Mirror

noreply@blogger.com (fleatrade) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 06:47:00 +0000

This is the laser diode and the tiny first mirror the bends the laser beam at right angle for it to be focused onto the cd. The right picture shows the laser diode and mirror mounted in the optical pickup assembly

Wearnes VCD CD MP3 Player - Laser Beam Focusing Coil

noreply@blogger.com (fleatrade) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 06:41:00 +0000

This is the laser beam focusing assembly. This focus the laser beam into a very fine beam for reading the information burned into the cd.

The focusing lens is plastic.

The left picture shows the focusing assembly part, note the copper wire coils and the small but strong magnets which together moved the lens up/down and sideways as the electronics controlled the current through the coil.

Wearnes VCD CD MP3 Player - CD Transport

noreply@blogger.com (fleatrade) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 06:36:00 +0000

This is the CD transport that hold the vcd in place while it is read by the laser beam.

The round circular metal piece has a magnet below which will clamp the cd against the rotating motor below.

The left picture shows the clamp plate removed, revealling the optical read head the cd spindle motor( round metal disc with plastic disc in center )